Resilience and the Virtue of Fortitude : Aquinas in Dialogue with the Psychosocial Sciences

Empirical research and virtue ethics find a fitting match in their respective studies of resilience and fortitude. The concept of resilience involves personal and social capacities to cope with difficulty, resist destruction under hardship, and construct something positive out of an otherwise negative situation. Although the concept is new, the human phenomenon is ancient. It has been attested to for millennia by poets, philosophers, and spiritual writers who have praised it in the language of the virtues. In addition to examining empirical resilience research, this book offersat philosophical and theological levelsa basis for a hearty understanding of the human person in terms of the virtues that enable human beings to overcome difficulty when they are faced with fear and suffering, or when they are in need of imaginative daring and hope. The primary such virtue is fortitude. The present study employs the thought of Thomas Aquinas and his sources on fortitude and its related virtues, while taking his dialogal method as a basis for critically appropriating reflections from other perspectives as well. The book offers a renewed, classic vision of the human person and the ordering of the sciences as read through the complementary and, at one level, corrective insights of empirical psychosocial studies on resilience. Such a vibrant natural-law approach to ethical norms and moral development offers guidelines and a framework for understanding human resilience. Moreover, it recognizes a theological transformation of such human capacitiesa spiritual resilienceby proposing the New Law of grace, Christ's teaching, and the infused virtues as vital bases for Christian ethics. Craig Steven Titus is research professor at the Institute for the Psychological Sciences, as well as lecturer and researcher at the University of Fribourg, Switzerland. In addition to serving as coeditor of Servais Pinckaers's The Pinckaers Reader , he is the editor of The Person and the Polis. PRAISE FOR THE "With admirable deftness and an impressive command of contemporary research into Aquinas's moral anthropology and the psychosocial sciences, Titus brings Aquinas's moral anthropology into dialogue with modern psychology and shows how each has much to learn from the other. . . . Anyone looking for a scholarly treatment of these subjects will do well to study this important and groundbreaking work." Giuseppe Butera, Religious Studies Review "In this scholarly and closely reasoned book, Titus puts the findings of psychosocial sciences into a conversation, as he calls it, with Thomas Aquinas' moral theory. Aquinas' discussion of the virtues and his philosophical anthropology in many ways anticipate some of the findings of science, so by putting the two into a detailed dynamic tension, the author enhances the value of both. He then goes on to apply these results to achieve a deeper understanding of Catholic moral theology. . . . [T]he arguments presented in this book open new territory for those interested in the study of Aquinas and the broader field of virtue ethics." Glen Ebisch, Catholic Library World Empirical Research And Virtue Ethics Find A Fitting Match In Their Respective Studies Of Resilience And Fortitude. The Concept Of Resilience Involves Personal And Social Capacities To Cope With Difficulty, Resist Destruction Under Hardship, And Construct Something Positive Out Of An Otherwise Negative Situation. Although The Concept Is New, The Human Phenomenon Is Ancient. It Has Been Attested To For Millennia By Poets, Philosophers, And Spiritual Writers Who Have Praised It In The Language Of The Virtues. In Addition To Examining Empirical Resilience Research, This Book Offers--at Philosophical And Theological Levels--a Basis For A Hearty Understanding Of The Human Person In Terms Of The Virtues That Enable Human Beings To Overcome Difficulty When They Are Faced With Fear And Suffering, Or When They Are In Need Of Imaginative Daring And Hope. The Primary Such Virtue Is Fortitude.^ The Present Study Employs The Thought Of Thomas Aquinas And His Sources On Fortitude And Its Related Virtues, While Taking His Dialogal Method As A Basis For Critically Appropriating Reflections From Other Perspectives As Well. The Book Offers A Renewed, Classic Vision Of The Human Person And The Ordering Of The Sciences As Read Through The Complementary And, At One Level, Corrective Insights Of Empirical Psychosocial Studies On Resilience. Such A Vibrant Natural-law Approach To Ethical Norms And Moral Development Offers Guidelines And A Framework For Understanding Human Resilience. Moreover, It Recognizes A Theological Transformation Of Such Human Capacities--a Spiritual Resilience--by Proposing The New Law Of Grace, Christ's Teaching, And The Infused Virtues As Vital Bases For Christian Ethics. Craig Steven Titus Is Research Professor At The Institute For The Psychological Sciences, As Well As Lecturer And Researcher At The University Of Fribourg, Switzerland.^ In Addition To Serving As Coeditor Of Servais Pinckaers's The Pinckaers Reader, He Is The Editor Of The Person And The Polis.--publisher's Website. 1. The Resilience Perspective -- 2. Resilience Input For A Virtue-based Philosophical Anthropology -- 3. Renewing Moral Theology : Aquinas' Virtue Theory And Resilience Research -- 4. Resilience And Aquinas' Virtue Of Fortitude -- 5. Constructive Resilience And Aquinas' Virtues Of Initiative -- 6. Resistant Resilience And Aquinas' Virtues Of Endurance -- 7. Aquinas' Theological Transformation Of Fortitude And Resilience -- 8. A Theological Dimension Of Resilient Initiative-taking? -- 9. Theological Dimension Of The Virtues Of Enduring -- 10. Conclusions : Resilience Research And The Renewal Of Moral Theology. Craig Steven Titus. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 375-398) And Indexes. Contents Acknowledgments Introduction Part One. Theoretical Considerations of Resilience and Virtue Theories 1. The Resilience Perspective 2. Resilience Input for a Virtue-Based Philosophical Anthropology 3. Renewing Moral Theology: Aquinas’ Virtue Theory and Resilience Research Part Two. Applications 4. Resilience and Aquinas’ Virtue of Fortitude 5. Constructive Resilience and Aquinas’ Virtues of Initiative 6. Resistant Resilience and Aquinas’ Virtues of Endurance Part Three. Fortitude and Resilience Transcended 7. Aquinas’ Theological Transformation of Fortitude and Resilience 8. A Theological Dimension of Resilient Initiative-Taking? 9. Theological Dimension of the Virtues of Enduring 10. Conclusions: Resilience Research and the Renewal of Moral Theology Abbreviations Bibliography Index of Subjects Index of Names Examining empirical resilience research, this book offers - at philosophical and theological levels - a basis for a hearty understanding of the human person in terms of the virtues that enable human beings to overcome difficulty when they are faced with fear and suffering, or when they are in need of imaginative daring and hope.